Mark 4:35-41 (Click on reference to read the passage)
Storms come. Sometimes they brew and gear up before they hit you, and sometimes they start without warning and threaten to destroy everything you hold dear. In these times, it is so easy to begin to wonder, "Am I really in the will of God? Did I miss a turn somewhere? Did I not hear his voice right?" However, just because we are in the storm, with waves crashing all around, does not mean that we have strayed from the Father's side.
Jesus told his disciples, "let us go over to the other side" (vs. 35). It was his idea. The disciples were in the will of God during the storm, He was always in control. However, just like the disciples, we often begin to take our eyes off the Savior and focus on the storm. They frantically woke Jesus saying, "Teacher don't you care that we are perishing?" (vs.38). Jesus answered by waking up, rebuking the wind, and making the sea perfectly calm (vs. 39).
Why make them go through the storm? All for one man, that was found on the other side of the shore, that needed the touch of the Savior (Mark 5:1-15). You see, Jesus cares more about eternity than our present comfort. God was willing to have the disciples battle a fierce storm, for the sake of one.
He doesn't always calm the storm, sometimes He just calms the sailor. We need to cling to His robes, rest in His shadow, believe that we can still be in the Will of God, and know that He is good. Instead of asking why, we need to be asking how... how can I bring the most Glory to God right now, where He has me. Trust me, I KNOW this is NOT easy. I stood by the graveside of my Daddy today. My storm hit sudden, and it hit hard. There have been moments in the past few days that I thought surely I would be engulfed, but I KNOW my Savior is still in my boat. As long as the storms rage, I hang on, looking for that one the Savior needs to touch. I leave you with the Words of my Lord...
"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble of be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you, wherever you may go." Joshua 1:9
Monday, December 28, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Resolve, The Lord is Good...
Tonight my Daddy went to be with His Heavenly Father. To say my heart is broken, seems to not touch on the pain I feel. However, I want to say this. God is good. My previous post talked about resolving NOW, before trials hit that God is good and His faithfulness and plan is perfect. Let me tell you how precious my Heavenly Father is...
For months the Lord has been whispering one sentence over and over in my heart and in my mind... God cares more about eternity than our present comfort. He has been showing me over and over that He is good and that His plan is perfect... even when it makes zero sense.
As I was laying on my bedroom floor, prostrate before the throne crying out for God's hand to move in my family, the Holy Spirit whispered to me, "God knows the number of our days even before one of them came to be." He knew years and years ago that tonight my Daddy was going to see His Father face to face, yet God cared enough about me to speak to truth to my heart for the past three months in order to prepare for tonight. I joked with Joe, and even Dad this past week, that I have been waiting for the hammer to fall... why else would God speak to me over and over about trials coming our way. Yet, God in his great mercy, prepared me for tonight.
It is not easy. I loved my Daddy with all my heart. He was an incredible man of God and we had an extremely close relationship. I will miss talking with him everyday about the Lord, family, etc. But, as I was praying, about the same time that my mom said he went to be with the Lord, I had the sweetest image in my head. It was the look on my Dad's face when he saw Jesus for the first time. I think God gave me that image in my head to know that all is okay. I can hear him now, laughing and saying, "this is the best Christmas gift I have ever gotten!"
Anyway, pray for me. Please pray especially for my mother. Her pain is excruciating. I know that it will hit me fully when I go home and see the difference. I can't write any more... the pain is too raw. I just wanted to record how sweet my Lord is before I go home and my flesh might forget.
Thank you. As my little girl sang with me tonight... "Jesus love me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so."
For months the Lord has been whispering one sentence over and over in my heart and in my mind... God cares more about eternity than our present comfort. He has been showing me over and over that He is good and that His plan is perfect... even when it makes zero sense.
As I was laying on my bedroom floor, prostrate before the throne crying out for God's hand to move in my family, the Holy Spirit whispered to me, "God knows the number of our days even before one of them came to be." He knew years and years ago that tonight my Daddy was going to see His Father face to face, yet God cared enough about me to speak to truth to my heart for the past three months in order to prepare for tonight. I joked with Joe, and even Dad this past week, that I have been waiting for the hammer to fall... why else would God speak to me over and over about trials coming our way. Yet, God in his great mercy, prepared me for tonight.
It is not easy. I loved my Daddy with all my heart. He was an incredible man of God and we had an extremely close relationship. I will miss talking with him everyday about the Lord, family, etc. But, as I was praying, about the same time that my mom said he went to be with the Lord, I had the sweetest image in my head. It was the look on my Dad's face when he saw Jesus for the first time. I think God gave me that image in my head to know that all is okay. I can hear him now, laughing and saying, "this is the best Christmas gift I have ever gotten!"
Anyway, pray for me. Please pray especially for my mother. Her pain is excruciating. I know that it will hit me fully when I go home and see the difference. I can't write any more... the pain is too raw. I just wanted to record how sweet my Lord is before I go home and my flesh might forget.
Thank you. As my little girl sang with me tonight... "Jesus love me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so."
Monday, December 7, 2009
Favored of the Lord
Luke 1:26-38 (click on reference to read scripture text)
As the angel was speaking, Mary had to realize the implications of his message, especially in the light of the culture that she lived in. She was literally placing her life in God's hands. A birth out of wedlock was a capital offense that would most likely result in stoning... and that is just the physical consequences. What about her reputation, the ridicule she would get because of her fantastic story, her impending marriage... all in jeopardy. Why? Because she had found favor with God (vs. 30).
I once heard a pastor say, "to be favored by the Lord, doesn't mean favors from the Lord." Mary is just one example. What about Daniel being thrown to the lions, Shadrach and friends into the fiery furnace, Joseph experiencing slavery and jail time, Esther being kidnapped from her home and forced into marriage with a pagan king, and the life of Paul is the definition of suffering. These men and women walked with God, loved God, served the Lord, yet they suffered.
Daniel 1:8 states that Daniel resolved in his heart not to defile himself. We too must resolve now how we will respond to future trials and directives from the Lord. We must decide now, do we love Jesus or do we only love what Jesus can do for us? We must resolve now to believe that God is good, PERIOD, so that in those trying times, our gut reaction is to cling to the Father and not run away.
So... what about me? Am I willing to be favored by the Lord? Am I living a life of 100% surrender and obedience to even be considered by Him? If so... do I consider it "pure joy when (I) face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2-4). May we respond like Mary, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word" (vs.38).
As the angel was speaking, Mary had to realize the implications of his message, especially in the light of the culture that she lived in. She was literally placing her life in God's hands. A birth out of wedlock was a capital offense that would most likely result in stoning... and that is just the physical consequences. What about her reputation, the ridicule she would get because of her fantastic story, her impending marriage... all in jeopardy. Why? Because she had found favor with God (vs. 30).
I once heard a pastor say, "to be favored by the Lord, doesn't mean favors from the Lord." Mary is just one example. What about Daniel being thrown to the lions, Shadrach and friends into the fiery furnace, Joseph experiencing slavery and jail time, Esther being kidnapped from her home and forced into marriage with a pagan king, and the life of Paul is the definition of suffering. These men and women walked with God, loved God, served the Lord, yet they suffered.
Daniel 1:8 states that Daniel resolved in his heart not to defile himself. We too must resolve now how we will respond to future trials and directives from the Lord. We must decide now, do we love Jesus or do we only love what Jesus can do for us? We must resolve now to believe that God is good, PERIOD, so that in those trying times, our gut reaction is to cling to the Father and not run away.
So... what about me? Am I willing to be favored by the Lord? Am I living a life of 100% surrender and obedience to even be considered by Him? If so... do I consider it "pure joy when (I) face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2-4). May we respond like Mary, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word" (vs.38).
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Whose Voice Are You Listening To?
John 10:1-10 (Click on text to read Scripture)
I don't mean to attack us females, but let us be real... We can be especially bad about excusing spiritual attacks against us as emotions, mood swings, just feeling depressed, hormones, etc. However, anything that comes against you that is not the voice of the Father, is a lie! We must learn to recognize his voice and fight back against the thief.
Satan is tricky. He never walks in through the door (vs.1,5) - or sets out to attack us in the most blatant way. (Although often we leave a door of attack wide open for him to prance into by what we fill our minds with). So often we hear the voice, "you're not good enough, you're not pretty enough, you better watch your weight or those you love will no longer love you, you are not talented enough to do anything really great for God, your house is not big enough or beautiful enough to show hospitality to others, you're not desirable enough for someone to ever choose to marry you, etc." I could go on and on. Satan is tricky because he has women hearing these lies, following his voice, and dwelling on things that do not belong. We are not just having a bad day, being a little hormonal, or overly emotional. We are being attacked at the very core of who God made us to be: His beautiful daughter, His princess, the crown of creation, made in the very likeness of the Father and on whom He lavishes His love (1 John 3:1).
God knows you personally and loves you intimately. God calls you by name. God speaks comfort to you. It is important that we, as His sheep, learn the voice of our shepherd (vs. 2-4). "The thief comes to steal, to kill and to destroy, but I have come that they may have life and life to the full! (vs. 10). THIS is God's will for you! To hear His voice, to dwell on His truth and to live life to the max! By listening to the lies of Satan we can truly be missing out on following God's voice to achieve His great purpose for our lives, and to lead us to the blessings He has prepared for us.
The sheep followed the shepherd... who are you following?
I don't mean to attack us females, but let us be real... We can be especially bad about excusing spiritual attacks against us as emotions, mood swings, just feeling depressed, hormones, etc. However, anything that comes against you that is not the voice of the Father, is a lie! We must learn to recognize his voice and fight back against the thief.
Satan is tricky. He never walks in through the door (vs.1,5) - or sets out to attack us in the most blatant way. (Although often we leave a door of attack wide open for him to prance into by what we fill our minds with). So often we hear the voice, "you're not good enough, you're not pretty enough, you better watch your weight or those you love will no longer love you, you are not talented enough to do anything really great for God, your house is not big enough or beautiful enough to show hospitality to others, you're not desirable enough for someone to ever choose to marry you, etc." I could go on and on. Satan is tricky because he has women hearing these lies, following his voice, and dwelling on things that do not belong. We are not just having a bad day, being a little hormonal, or overly emotional. We are being attacked at the very core of who God made us to be: His beautiful daughter, His princess, the crown of creation, made in the very likeness of the Father and on whom He lavishes His love (1 John 3:1).
God knows you personally and loves you intimately. God calls you by name. God speaks comfort to you. It is important that we, as His sheep, learn the voice of our shepherd (vs. 2-4). "The thief comes to steal, to kill and to destroy, but I have come that they may have life and life to the full! (vs. 10). THIS is God's will for you! To hear His voice, to dwell on His truth and to live life to the max! By listening to the lies of Satan we can truly be missing out on following God's voice to achieve His great purpose for our lives, and to lead us to the blessings He has prepared for us.
The sheep followed the shepherd... who are you following?
Sunday, October 25, 2009
How Do I Become a Conqueror? (Part 2)
1 Samuel 17:1-50 (Click on text to read scripture)
Running a race is not easy... it takes lots of practice, lots of perseverance, and keeping our eyes on the finish line. It is easy to want to give up, especially when you hit "the wall." As a hurdler, I used to hit a wall at the 200 meter mark. I was turning onto the last straight away and could see the finish line on the horizon, but my legs wanted to buckle. I used to pray that the Lord would put His hand on my back and keep me going, and sometimes that is what we need to do in life.
David discovered that in order to be a conqueror, it took training. He didn't start on the battlefield, but in a field of sheep (vs. 14-15). However, no task was too small for David to perform faithfully and 100%. We must remember, that at this point, he had already been anointed by Samuel to become the next King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13), yet his only subjects were sheep! We must be faithful where we are now and trust God for what is to come!
Second, David became a conqueror because he believed God and stepped out in faith (vs. 32). Often times faith acts cannot be rationalized (the city walls of Jericho falling down at the cry of Israel's army, Peter walking on the water, Gideon's small army gaining victory, etc). Over and over we see God accomplishing great things in impossible ways. Jesus said in His Word, that we will one day do even greater things than His miracles (John 14:12-14). God's Word is true and gives us great power for overcoming obstacles and strongholds in His Holy Name!
Third, David used the tools that God had given him (vs. 38-40). God doesn't need worldly things to accomplish His purposes. The Word's solutions don't fix the problem, Israel was proving that. God uses what we have. David used a sling and a stone, Moses had a shepherds staff, etc. God gives us spiritual gifts and abilities for a reason. We must be careful to not excuse our inactivity for the Kingdom because we don't feel we are properly equipped! He often chooses the weak things of this world, the lowly things in the world's eyes, to accomplish His great purposes (1 Cor 1:25-29).
Lastly, David knew that in order to be a conqueror, he could not fight in His own strength (vs. 45-50). God's name is more powerful than any weapon, we must learn to call out on the name of the Lord! Letting God fight our battles IS NOT GIVING UP, but it is His divine will and purpose in order to bring himself glory! Isn't giving God all the glory our ultimate purpose after all?
God is not camped out on the last spiritual high that you had, He is right here, where you are, right now! Remember, that before David could kill Goliath, he had to spend years in the fields with sheep and facing bears and lions. We need to be faithful, even in the little day to day struggles and attacks in our life, so when our Goliath comes we can securely say, "You come against me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts... This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands!" (vs. 45-46).
Running a race is not easy... it takes lots of practice, lots of perseverance, and keeping our eyes on the finish line. It is easy to want to give up, especially when you hit "the wall." As a hurdler, I used to hit a wall at the 200 meter mark. I was turning onto the last straight away and could see the finish line on the horizon, but my legs wanted to buckle. I used to pray that the Lord would put His hand on my back and keep me going, and sometimes that is what we need to do in life.
David discovered that in order to be a conqueror, it took training. He didn't start on the battlefield, but in a field of sheep (vs. 14-15). However, no task was too small for David to perform faithfully and 100%. We must remember, that at this point, he had already been anointed by Samuel to become the next King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13), yet his only subjects were sheep! We must be faithful where we are now and trust God for what is to come!
Second, David became a conqueror because he believed God and stepped out in faith (vs. 32). Often times faith acts cannot be rationalized (the city walls of Jericho falling down at the cry of Israel's army, Peter walking on the water, Gideon's small army gaining victory, etc). Over and over we see God accomplishing great things in impossible ways. Jesus said in His Word, that we will one day do even greater things than His miracles (John 14:12-14). God's Word is true and gives us great power for overcoming obstacles and strongholds in His Holy Name!
Third, David used the tools that God had given him (vs. 38-40). God doesn't need worldly things to accomplish His purposes. The Word's solutions don't fix the problem, Israel was proving that. God uses what we have. David used a sling and a stone, Moses had a shepherds staff, etc. God gives us spiritual gifts and abilities for a reason. We must be careful to not excuse our inactivity for the Kingdom because we don't feel we are properly equipped! He often chooses the weak things of this world, the lowly things in the world's eyes, to accomplish His great purposes (1 Cor 1:25-29).
Lastly, David knew that in order to be a conqueror, he could not fight in His own strength (vs. 45-50). God's name is more powerful than any weapon, we must learn to call out on the name of the Lord! Letting God fight our battles IS NOT GIVING UP, but it is His divine will and purpose in order to bring himself glory! Isn't giving God all the glory our ultimate purpose after all?
God is not camped out on the last spiritual high that you had, He is right here, where you are, right now! Remember, that before David could kill Goliath, he had to spend years in the fields with sheep and facing bears and lions. We need to be faithful, even in the little day to day struggles and attacks in our life, so when our Goliath comes we can securely say, "You come against me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts... This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands!" (vs. 45-46).
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Why Do I Fail? (Part 1 of Being a Conqueror in Christ)
1 Samuel 17:1-50 (Click on reference to read text)
Satan loves to put Goliath sized images and problems before us. Satan likes making us feel like we are trapped by a warrior that is fully armed, and ready to bring total destruction and slavery. How quickly we forget that if we have a personal relationship with God's son, Jesus Christ, although we are small, we have the power of God and the Host of Heaven on our side. This is exactly what happened to Israel.
God had promised Israel land that they would dwell in safely. In this point of history, the Philistines were trying to remove Israel from the promised land, and they almost succeeded. So often we reach the point that Israel was at, running in fear, but how do we get there?
First we forget who we are (vs.8). Goliath called the Israelites servants of Saul, and no one seemed to even notice. This was their first mistake. They were chosen by God, His children, called by His name. When we forget who we are, we also fall susceptible to attack. It is so easy to stop believing in the faithfulness of our Father when we stop putting our identity in Him! It is not until verse 26 that God is even mentioned in this story... we must keep Him in the forefront of our minds and lives!
Second we begin to focus on the problem and not on God (vs. 11 and 21-24). Yes, they had a big problem... a nine foot tall problem. Their problem seemed huge, but God is so much bigger! When we lose sight of God, our faith hides behind our fear. Remember the story of Elisha when he told Gehazi "don't worry, those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (2 Kings 6:8-23).
Finally, we often live in captivity to fear and failure because we follow false advice (vs. 28). People will provide opposition to you and sometimes encourage you to stay in fear and bondage, BUT GOD BRINGS FREEDOM (Gal 5:1). This verse clearly states, "do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." It is a choice that we make! Don't listen to people that encourage you to live in bondage. There truly is freedom in Christ!
We must remember that we "are MORE than conquerors in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:37). We all allow things to keep us from being a conqueror. What or Who is your Goliath? What are you battling for your promised land right now. Remember, God is bigger and with God all things are possible (Matt 19:26).
(This week we learn what not to do. Tune in next week as we focus on how to become a conqueror!)
Satan loves to put Goliath sized images and problems before us. Satan likes making us feel like we are trapped by a warrior that is fully armed, and ready to bring total destruction and slavery. How quickly we forget that if we have a personal relationship with God's son, Jesus Christ, although we are small, we have the power of God and the Host of Heaven on our side. This is exactly what happened to Israel.
God had promised Israel land that they would dwell in safely. In this point of history, the Philistines were trying to remove Israel from the promised land, and they almost succeeded. So often we reach the point that Israel was at, running in fear, but how do we get there?
First we forget who we are (vs.8). Goliath called the Israelites servants of Saul, and no one seemed to even notice. This was their first mistake. They were chosen by God, His children, called by His name. When we forget who we are, we also fall susceptible to attack. It is so easy to stop believing in the faithfulness of our Father when we stop putting our identity in Him! It is not until verse 26 that God is even mentioned in this story... we must keep Him in the forefront of our minds and lives!
Second we begin to focus on the problem and not on God (vs. 11 and 21-24). Yes, they had a big problem... a nine foot tall problem. Their problem seemed huge, but God is so much bigger! When we lose sight of God, our faith hides behind our fear. Remember the story of Elisha when he told Gehazi "don't worry, those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (2 Kings 6:8-23).
Finally, we often live in captivity to fear and failure because we follow false advice (vs. 28). People will provide opposition to you and sometimes encourage you to stay in fear and bondage, BUT GOD BRINGS FREEDOM (Gal 5:1). This verse clearly states, "do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." It is a choice that we make! Don't listen to people that encourage you to live in bondage. There truly is freedom in Christ!
We must remember that we "are MORE than conquerors in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:37). We all allow things to keep us from being a conqueror. What or Who is your Goliath? What are you battling for your promised land right now. Remember, God is bigger and with God all things are possible (Matt 19:26).
(This week we learn what not to do. Tune in next week as we focus on how to become a conqueror!)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Give Thanks...
Philippians 4:4-13 (Click on reference to read text)
My family and I walked into our home Monday night to discover water pouring from the ceiling of our kitchen, and our daughter's upstairs bedroom closet soaking wet. A few hours, and what will soon be several thousand dollars later, we have a hole in our kitchen ceiling, a hole in our daughter's floor, an insurance claim, a furnace that needs to be replaced, and a leak in our roof we discovered haphazardly through this entire process. As my home has become a construction site, I ponder Paul's words... Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS!
It is nearly impossible for the fleshly mind to comprehend how Paul could say this. He was sitting in a prison and not out doing what he felt the Lord had called him to do, yet we find him not only rejoicing, but admonishing others to do the same. He truly believed what He wrote, "God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God" (Romans 8:28). He intimately knew the Father. He knew that our loving Father is out to bless and protect. However, Paul also knew that the Lord was more concerned about eternity than our present comfort.
So what was there to rejoice about? Thanks to Paul's prison sentence, we have the New Testament. Most of the New Testament was written by Paul while he was in prison. You see, although Paul was seemingly being held back from his mission, to proclaim the gospel to the known world, God actually used this time so that Paul could proclaim the Gospel to all the world for centuries to come.
God's plans are perfect. We must cling to Him and His promises and CHOOSE to believe in His faithfulness, period! No matter what our present circumstances dictate. Paul could have easily given into his circumstances and wasted this time in prison. However, he allowed God to use him even though he was held captive. What situations are you in? Are you bemoaning your circumstance and having a pity party, or are you asking yourself what the Lord would have you do in the midst of this trying time?
I have plenty to rejoice about. A house can be repaired, but the peace that God is giving me in the midst of this situation is priceless. He has shown me His awesome faithfulness. You see, we had just come home from being out of town for a week. We were able to minimize the damage because we were home and stopped it before it was worse. A house is just a shell, but building a home of the foundation of Jesus Christ is what is truly important. So let us learn from Paul: rejoice in the Lord (vs.4), be anxious for nothing (vs. 6), pray with thanksgiving in the midst of your circumstance (vs.6), let God's peace guard your heart (vs. 7), focus/dwell on the good things (vs. 8), find contentment in Him (vs. 12), for we can do all things through Him who gives us strength (vs. 13)!
My family and I walked into our home Monday night to discover water pouring from the ceiling of our kitchen, and our daughter's upstairs bedroom closet soaking wet. A few hours, and what will soon be several thousand dollars later, we have a hole in our kitchen ceiling, a hole in our daughter's floor, an insurance claim, a furnace that needs to be replaced, and a leak in our roof we discovered haphazardly through this entire process. As my home has become a construction site, I ponder Paul's words... Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS!
It is nearly impossible for the fleshly mind to comprehend how Paul could say this. He was sitting in a prison and not out doing what he felt the Lord had called him to do, yet we find him not only rejoicing, but admonishing others to do the same. He truly believed what He wrote, "God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God" (Romans 8:28). He intimately knew the Father. He knew that our loving Father is out to bless and protect. However, Paul also knew that the Lord was more concerned about eternity than our present comfort.
So what was there to rejoice about? Thanks to Paul's prison sentence, we have the New Testament. Most of the New Testament was written by Paul while he was in prison. You see, although Paul was seemingly being held back from his mission, to proclaim the gospel to the known world, God actually used this time so that Paul could proclaim the Gospel to all the world for centuries to come.
God's plans are perfect. We must cling to Him and His promises and CHOOSE to believe in His faithfulness, period! No matter what our present circumstances dictate. Paul could have easily given into his circumstances and wasted this time in prison. However, he allowed God to use him even though he was held captive. What situations are you in? Are you bemoaning your circumstance and having a pity party, or are you asking yourself what the Lord would have you do in the midst of this trying time?
I have plenty to rejoice about. A house can be repaired, but the peace that God is giving me in the midst of this situation is priceless. He has shown me His awesome faithfulness. You see, we had just come home from being out of town for a week. We were able to minimize the damage because we were home and stopped it before it was worse. A house is just a shell, but building a home of the foundation of Jesus Christ is what is truly important. So let us learn from Paul: rejoice in the Lord (vs.4), be anxious for nothing (vs. 6), pray with thanksgiving in the midst of your circumstance (vs.6), let God's peace guard your heart (vs. 7), focus/dwell on the good things (vs. 8), find contentment in Him (vs. 12), for we can do all things through Him who gives us strength (vs. 13)!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
To the Brim...
John 2:1-11 (Click reference to read text)
The beginning of John capture 2 describes Jesus' first miracle, changing water into wine. I have always read this story with little more than a passing interest... hey I was raised Baptist and wine was a major no-no! However, recently the Lord really taught me some things that I would like to share.
The jars that Jesus used were designated for ceremonial washings (vs. 6). Often God uses people and things in unconventional ways for His glory. We must learn not to place restraints on God and put Him in a box. How many times do we miss out on His blessing/abundance because we try to tell the Lord how He can and should use us, our talents, our home, or our loved ones? Do I make everything available for His use... even things that I feel would be better used somewhere/somehow different?
Next, we see the servants filling the jars to the brim (vs. 7). This truth is key in our Christian walk. We must learn to be obedient to the brim! We need to obey with enthusiasm. We need to have a "to the brim" mentality! How much abundance have we missed out on because we obeyed most of the way, or gave mostly our best?
However, not only do we need to obey fully, but we also need to just do what the Lord tells us to. Even the simple things. Jesus told the servants to take some of the water to their master, and they did so (vs. 8). This command probably made no sense, because for all the servants knew they were about to take some water to their boss. They didn't know it was wine yet. We must never hesitate in obeying God just because we don't fully understand what He is going to do. We need to obey even if we think it might affect us negatively or risk embarrassment!
Basically, it all boils down to this: If the servants would have argued, "You can't use these! They are made for something else! They only have one use!" they would have never seen the miraculous hand of God. Or if they would not have filled the jars to the brim, they would have limited the overflow of Christ. SO many times we limit God in our life... either because of excuses or by not putting forth a "to the brim" kind of effort. Let's see the hand of God. As you can read, there was no step-by-step plan in making this miracle happen. The servants could not take the Glory, only God could! Let Him take control, take the Glory, and Bless!
The beginning of John capture 2 describes Jesus' first miracle, changing water into wine. I have always read this story with little more than a passing interest... hey I was raised Baptist and wine was a major no-no! However, recently the Lord really taught me some things that I would like to share.
The jars that Jesus used were designated for ceremonial washings (vs. 6). Often God uses people and things in unconventional ways for His glory. We must learn not to place restraints on God and put Him in a box. How many times do we miss out on His blessing/abundance because we try to tell the Lord how He can and should use us, our talents, our home, or our loved ones? Do I make everything available for His use... even things that I feel would be better used somewhere/somehow different?
Next, we see the servants filling the jars to the brim (vs. 7). This truth is key in our Christian walk. We must learn to be obedient to the brim! We need to obey with enthusiasm. We need to have a "to the brim" mentality! How much abundance have we missed out on because we obeyed most of the way, or gave mostly our best?
However, not only do we need to obey fully, but we also need to just do what the Lord tells us to. Even the simple things. Jesus told the servants to take some of the water to their master, and they did so (vs. 8). This command probably made no sense, because for all the servants knew they were about to take some water to their boss. They didn't know it was wine yet. We must never hesitate in obeying God just because we don't fully understand what He is going to do. We need to obey even if we think it might affect us negatively or risk embarrassment!
Basically, it all boils down to this: If the servants would have argued, "You can't use these! They are made for something else! They only have one use!" they would have never seen the miraculous hand of God. Or if they would not have filled the jars to the brim, they would have limited the overflow of Christ. SO many times we limit God in our life... either because of excuses or by not putting forth a "to the brim" kind of effort. Let's see the hand of God. As you can read, there was no step-by-step plan in making this miracle happen. The servants could not take the Glory, only God could! Let Him take control, take the Glory, and Bless!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Fire...
Daniel 3:1-27 (Click on reference to read Scripture)
If you are like me, you have read this story 100 times, taught it to various children about 300 times, and seen a cartoon depicting this story many times as well. However, as God's Word is Living and Active (Hebrews 4:12), this story took on a new meaning to me this week.
We all pray for deliverance. We want to be delivered from trying times, health issues, trying people, etc, and we often get frustrated when we don't see the Lord coming through. As we read about the lives of these three men, I wondered what they were thinking. They were so bold, truly believing that the Lord could save them, but EVEN IF HE DOES NOT (vs. 18), they were still going to trust the Lord and act in obedience.
It would have been perfectly within the Lord's power to keep them from having to go into the fiery furnace... but that did not happen. They were bound and thrown in. However, the most amazing thing happened... not only did they survive, but they were able to WALK with Jesus, IN the fire, and when they came out... THE SMELL OF FIRE WAS NOT UPON THEM (vs. 27).
It would have been a miracle to survive, but to not even smell like fire... that is above and beyond. Yes, God could have kept them from the fire, but what blessings would these brave men have been robbed of? They would not have literally walked with God, they would not have seen the overwhelming faithfulness of God so much that they did not even smell like smoke.
So I ask myself this... am I willing to go through the fire in order to see the Glory of God? Am I going to get mad and blame God for not keeping me from the furnace, or am I going to trust that He will meet me there and give me His peace that surpasses all human understanding? Do I have an "even if He does not" mentality?
Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you."
If you are like me, you have read this story 100 times, taught it to various children about 300 times, and seen a cartoon depicting this story many times as well. However, as God's Word is Living and Active (Hebrews 4:12), this story took on a new meaning to me this week.
We all pray for deliverance. We want to be delivered from trying times, health issues, trying people, etc, and we often get frustrated when we don't see the Lord coming through. As we read about the lives of these three men, I wondered what they were thinking. They were so bold, truly believing that the Lord could save them, but EVEN IF HE DOES NOT (vs. 18), they were still going to trust the Lord and act in obedience.
It would have been perfectly within the Lord's power to keep them from having to go into the fiery furnace... but that did not happen. They were bound and thrown in. However, the most amazing thing happened... not only did they survive, but they were able to WALK with Jesus, IN the fire, and when they came out... THE SMELL OF FIRE WAS NOT UPON THEM (vs. 27).
It would have been a miracle to survive, but to not even smell like fire... that is above and beyond. Yes, God could have kept them from the fire, but what blessings would these brave men have been robbed of? They would not have literally walked with God, they would not have seen the overwhelming faithfulness of God so much that they did not even smell like smoke.
So I ask myself this... am I willing to go through the fire in order to see the Glory of God? Am I going to get mad and blame God for not keeping me from the furnace, or am I going to trust that He will meet me there and give me His peace that surpasses all human understanding? Do I have an "even if He does not" mentality?
Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you."
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Sleepy?
Acts 12:1-16 (Click on reference to read the Scripture text)
It is the night before your big trial and more than likely you will end up dead. What do you do? I don't know about you, but sleeping would not be high on my list. Praying, freaking out, trying to figure out a way to turn into MacGyver and escape using my trusty Swiss army knife, some shoelaces and maybe gum... but sleep?
Yet, this is exactly what we find Peter doing (vs.6-7). In time of crisis, when his life was literally at stake, Peter trusted God so much that he was at peace enough to sleep. He literally was able to grasp and understand John 16:33. He was not even sleeping lightly. The Bible says that the angel literally had to strike Peter in the side to wake him up (vs. 7).
Peter was at complete peace in God's will for His life and also His timing. Verse six states, "The night before Herod was to bring him to trial." God kept Peter in jail until the night before the trial. What a test of faith! God waited until the last moment to rescue Peter. God was not late. God's timing is not always our timing, but God's timing is always perfect (Isaiah 55:8-9). We see that when God came through, Peter did not question the angel or God. He simply acted in obedience and did what the angel told him to do. God provided the means of escape, but Peter had to get up and walk out, and in a timely manner. Has God provided deliverance for you, but you are too scared to stand up and get out? Are you dragging your feet? Delayed obedience IS disobedience!
I included these last few verses because they strike me as funny, yet extremely convicting. The saints were praying for Peter's rescue and deliverance, yet when he showed up at the door they didn't believe it was possible enough to immediately open the door (vs. 13-16). Do you pray to the Lord but not really believe He will answer? Are you actually surprised to see Him do the impossible? Pray in confidence and without a doubt (James 1:5-7), and while you're at it... get some sleep!
It is the night before your big trial and more than likely you will end up dead. What do you do? I don't know about you, but sleeping would not be high on my list. Praying, freaking out, trying to figure out a way to turn into MacGyver and escape using my trusty Swiss army knife, some shoelaces and maybe gum... but sleep?
Yet, this is exactly what we find Peter doing (vs.6-7). In time of crisis, when his life was literally at stake, Peter trusted God so much that he was at peace enough to sleep. He literally was able to grasp and understand John 16:33. He was not even sleeping lightly. The Bible says that the angel literally had to strike Peter in the side to wake him up (vs. 7).
Peter was at complete peace in God's will for His life and also His timing. Verse six states, "The night before Herod was to bring him to trial." God kept Peter in jail until the night before the trial. What a test of faith! God waited until the last moment to rescue Peter. God was not late. God's timing is not always our timing, but God's timing is always perfect (Isaiah 55:8-9). We see that when God came through, Peter did not question the angel or God. He simply acted in obedience and did what the angel told him to do. God provided the means of escape, but Peter had to get up and walk out, and in a timely manner. Has God provided deliverance for you, but you are too scared to stand up and get out? Are you dragging your feet? Delayed obedience IS disobedience!
I included these last few verses because they strike me as funny, yet extremely convicting. The saints were praying for Peter's rescue and deliverance, yet when he showed up at the door they didn't believe it was possible enough to immediately open the door (vs. 13-16). Do you pray to the Lord but not really believe He will answer? Are you actually surprised to see Him do the impossible? Pray in confidence and without a doubt (James 1:5-7), and while you're at it... get some sleep!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Obedience or Sacrifice?
Genesis 22:1-18 (Click on reference to read text)
Some of our trials and tests are brought on by God. This may seem harsh, but the opposite is true. He uses these trials to refine us to make us more like Himself and to reveal to us just exactly who He is and what He is made of! Abraham was a perfect example of this truth!
Abraham was a follower of God if there ever was one! He lived in a state of readiness: spiritually, physically and emotionally. When God called, he answered immediately (vs.1). Yet, God asked this great man of Faith to do something that seemed unfair and horrible, to sacrifice his own son... the fulfillment of a promise from God.
Instead of running away, we see Abraham following the Lord and trusting Him (vs. 4-8). He did not begin to act in obedience and then stop when He did not see God providing an escape. No! He trusted God the entire time and was going to be obedient above all else. Even if it meant sacrificing what he held most dear. I think one of the reasons he was willing to walk in obedience is because he KNEW God. He knew God was compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8). He knew God could be trusted because God loved him passionately. Abraham had the faith that God would give Isaac back to him. When he left the servants to go on with Isaac, he said to the servants, “We will go and sacrifice” and then “WE will return" (vs.5). Abraham knew that God would not go back on His promise of his son, even though current circumstances did not show it.
However, there is a huge point from this story that we cannot miss. When God called Abraham to stop and sacrifice the ram instead... Abraham listened! (vs. 12-14). Abraham could have gone ahead and slain Isaac, because after all, at some point didn't God tell him to? When God said you don't have to do this, Abraham could have responded in the flesh, saying "I will show my devotion to God by killing my son, my most precious blessing." As important as it is to instantly obey God and be willing to sacrifice to Him all you hold dear, it is just as important to listen to the voice of God and not sacrifice on the altar what He does not require of you. This is why to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). It is not about the object of the sacrifice we lay down, but the attitude of our hearts. The world looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Are we truly willing to give everything to the Lord? Our hopes, dreams, possessions, jobs, family, children?
God's timing is perfect. He is never too early and never too late, despite what we think (2 Peter 3:9). Even though Isaac was never sacrificed, God says to Abraham, "Because you have not withheld your only son whom you love" (vs. 12). To God, the act of putting his son on the altar and raising the knife WAS not withholding his own son. What is God asking you to give over to Him? Are you holding on tightly in fear? Trust that He loves you and has your eternal best at heart!
Some of our trials and tests are brought on by God. This may seem harsh, but the opposite is true. He uses these trials to refine us to make us more like Himself and to reveal to us just exactly who He is and what He is made of! Abraham was a perfect example of this truth!
Abraham was a follower of God if there ever was one! He lived in a state of readiness: spiritually, physically and emotionally. When God called, he answered immediately (vs.1). Yet, God asked this great man of Faith to do something that seemed unfair and horrible, to sacrifice his own son... the fulfillment of a promise from God.
Instead of running away, we see Abraham following the Lord and trusting Him (vs. 4-8). He did not begin to act in obedience and then stop when He did not see God providing an escape. No! He trusted God the entire time and was going to be obedient above all else. Even if it meant sacrificing what he held most dear. I think one of the reasons he was willing to walk in obedience is because he KNEW God. He knew God was compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8). He knew God could be trusted because God loved him passionately. Abraham had the faith that God would give Isaac back to him. When he left the servants to go on with Isaac, he said to the servants, “We will go and sacrifice” and then “WE will return" (vs.5). Abraham knew that God would not go back on His promise of his son, even though current circumstances did not show it.
However, there is a huge point from this story that we cannot miss. When God called Abraham to stop and sacrifice the ram instead... Abraham listened! (vs. 12-14). Abraham could have gone ahead and slain Isaac, because after all, at some point didn't God tell him to? When God said you don't have to do this, Abraham could have responded in the flesh, saying "I will show my devotion to God by killing my son, my most precious blessing." As important as it is to instantly obey God and be willing to sacrifice to Him all you hold dear, it is just as important to listen to the voice of God and not sacrifice on the altar what He does not require of you. This is why to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). It is not about the object of the sacrifice we lay down, but the attitude of our hearts. The world looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Are we truly willing to give everything to the Lord? Our hopes, dreams, possessions, jobs, family, children?
God's timing is perfect. He is never too early and never too late, despite what we think (2 Peter 3:9). Even though Isaac was never sacrificed, God says to Abraham, "Because you have not withheld your only son whom you love" (vs. 12). To God, the act of putting his son on the altar and raising the knife WAS not withholding his own son. What is God asking you to give over to Him? Are you holding on tightly in fear? Trust that He loves you and has your eternal best at heart!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Are You Empty?
2 Kings 4:1-7 - Click on reference to read... Please take a moment to read the Scripture. My words are simply that, but God's are living and active (Hebrews 4:12)
God promises in His Word that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6). However, there are times in our life that we are so weighted down and troubled we cannot imagine getting through. Although He promises that He will never leave us, God also promises, "in this world you will have trouble," BUT don't forget the rest, "I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
This God-fearing widow found herself in dire need. Her life, and the lives of her children, were at stake! Instead of running to worldly solutions, she ran to God! God was willing to bless her in the midst of her troubles... to the point of OVERFLOWING! He took what she already had (vs. 2) and brought deliverance! However, it was her responsibility to provide empty jars. As many empty jars as she provided, God was willing to fill!
So many times, the amount of blessing we receive depends upon the amount of emptiness we present to God. We may obey him half-heartily... maybe only gathering the jars closest to us that require no extra cleaning out or searching. Maybe we are scared to ask others around us for help. Maybe we are too scared to be totally empty and vulnerable before the Lord. Yet any of these excuses would limit the work and power of God in our life. Elisha commanded, "Don't ask for just a few" (vs. 3). It is only when we are empty before the Lord, taking out all of ourselves and presenting it before God, that He can deliver us from ourselves and fill us with His spirit to the point of overflowing!
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